New Collaboration Showcases English Hops in Modern Cask Format Hook Norton Brewery, an independent English brewer, has partnered with Five Points Brewing Co of London to produce Points of Brew, a limited-release cask ale designed to highlight the range of British hop varieties in contemporary brewing. The 3.8% abv light copper ale combines English malts—Maris Otter, Premium English Caramalt, and Vienna—with Challenger, Admiral, and UK Cascade hops. The recipe aims for what the breweries describe as "soft, layered, balanced and highly drinkable" character, with tasting notes of toasted biscuit, toffee, earthy spice, orange marmalade, and soft grapefruit zest on the nose, followed by a smooth balance of light nutty sweetness with herbal spice and hedgerow citrus on the palate. Greg Hobbs, co-founder and director of brewing at Five Points, characterized the collaboration as "a great adventure and fantastic experience." Andy Thomas, Head of Production at Hook Norton, echoed the sentiment: "It was such a great experience to brew with Five Points and share knowledge, experience and maybe one or two pints!" Points of Brew will be available from both breweries' tap rooms, Hook Norton's pub estate, and select free houses from early July.
Why It Matters
Collaborations between regional and craft breweries continue to draw consumer attention to cask ale formats and domestically grown hops as UK brewers emphasize provenance and terroir in their portfolios.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors
